Netcast Church Podcast

<p>The type of worship we offer must reflect the type of God we serve and kind of love we have been given. At the core of Netcast is worship: the vision statement says, "Gospel-Centered Worshipful Communities." This passage is incredible vital to our faith and the future of this church. We must not only understand worship well, but we must be known for our worship.</p>

<p>The truth that God loves you, is a profound revelation that transforms the human heart. He does not hate you, He is not angry at you and He is not mad at you. In the Lords mind, you've been carefully woven & knit together, you're unique, special & the apple of His eye. However, His love for you is based upon no merit of your own but only His divine mercy.</p>

<p>How do we fight a battle that has already been won? Our worship pastor, Josh Sturgeon walks through what it looks like for the Church to fight a spiritual battle on this side of the cross, knowing that Jesus has been given all authority over the enemy.</p>

<p>Satan will do anything and everything in his power to oppose God and those who follow God. However, Satan’s destiny is sealed, Christ has already won and victory belongs to the kingdom of God.</p>

<p>Netcast had the opportunity to serve alongside Pastor Otto Alvarez and his team at Libre Infancia, a ministry focused on children living in one of the most desperate areas of Guatemala City. Through this experience, God made it clear that our two ministries have have a unique chemistry. Netcast has committed its support to the long-term mission of Libre Infancia to break the cycle of poverty in the "Zone 3" garbage dump, through education and the transforming impact of the gospel.</p>

<p>Understanding who you are helps us be who we were created to be. "You" is a plural pronoun. The church- the body of Christ is a chosen race, a royal persist hood, a holy nation. Not you as an individual, but you as a body....a family. As this chosen, royal, holy body- we are called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us.</p>

<p>The kingdom is full of beautiful diversity as it expresses itself locally. What are some of the unique local expressions we desire to see at Netcast?</p>

<p>Although followers of Jesus need to be Kingdom-Minded, there can be a danger if this mindset is taken to the extreme. To only think in "Kingdom" terms, can run the risk of missing the beauty and importance of the local body.</p>

<p>There is a mysterious relationship between the Kingdom and the local church, but because many evangelicals don't like “mystery” we will often divorce unique distinctive's that God meant to be married.</p>

<p>The politics of Jesus can be summarized into three simple questions: Who is my family? Who is my enemy? And what is the world--and how do I relate to it? The way you answer these questions determines how you live and what Kingdom you are a part of.</p>

<p>Perhaps the greatest problem of North American Christianity is the church in America has fused the Kingdom of God with Kingdom of the World we call the United States of America.</p>

<p>To understand the Apostle Paul's context, it is important to see the political environment of living under the Roman Empire. Empire building has not changed that much in 2,000 years. It is today as it was then, Jesus is Lord .... Caesar is NOT.</p>

<p>Some of the youngest churches in the first century understood their responsibility to provide care, relief and encouragement in a hurting world for the advancement of the kingdom of God. May the churches around the globe today resemble similar characteristics as in act of worship to our great God.</p>

<p>The resurrection of Christ is the most historical event the world has ever known. It demonstrated to us that everything that is not Jesus over promises and under-delivers. However, when our hope is in Jesus we are promised to have a friend who will never leave us nor for sake us in addition to sustaining us through all situations of life.</p>

<p>In John 12, you see this incredible story of multiple characters. Of those, only one stands out as faithful, Mary.</p>

<p>Jesus tells us that in every single circumstance of life, if by the grace of God we chose to believe the accurate nature and character of God, we would get to see the glory of God.</p>

<p>Jesus was always sharing meals with broken people. He served the first communion to broken disciples. So why do we think now that the Lord's Supper is for the super holy? Perhaps we should Biblically reconsider the significance of this sacrament. What kind of power is really present at the table? And more importantly, who is it for? Is the table for the holy--or just for the hungry?</p>

<p>If you go to the New Testament to develop a biblical basis for Christian giving, you could never come up with what is commonly taught and practiced in the majority of churches today; the tithe. So, if tithing isn't the basis for our Christian giving, what is it?</p>

<p>Evangelicalism has been historically known as a religion full of hypocrites. Not because we struggle with sin, but because it's obvious to the world that we struggle with sin, yet we pretend as if we don't. In the gospel we see that the more mature you are as a believer in Christ, the more clear you can see how deeply rooted your depravity actually is. Therefore, take off the mask and begin to let love be genuine.</p>

<p>As Christians, we celebrate Christmas out of a gratitude for what God has done. We remember His birth by giving gifts, offering our worship, and reminding ourselves that He has come to bring direction and empowerment to those who receive Him. He is the greatest gift giver the world has ever known.</p>

<p>The sovereignty of God, while creating problems for our understanding of sin and evil, is the rock-solid foundation that enables us to carry on in life through sin and evil. Where would we turn if we didn't have a God to help us deal with the very evils that he has allowed to come into our lives?</p>

<p>Jesus is so incredible, so powerful and so beautiful that our only response to Him should be..."Everything under heaven and earth is your." By "thinking" in this way, we will become incredible worshippers of God and generosity will flow out of us like never<br>before.</p>

<p>Most of the Bible was originally written to those living in an agrarian society, people familiar with working the land, managing livestock, and raising crops. Many of Jesus' parables involve the farming life. Not surprisingly, then, the Bible contains many references to sowing and reaping. Sowing and reaping is meant to be a motivation for our generosity. It is more than just an agricultural principle. It is a promise from God that we reap what we sow.</p>

<p>The reality of the human heart is our money actually is a mirror that reflects back to us our true belief and trust in the gospel. Therefore, to keep the gospel central, is to also take an accurate picture of our hearts through the lens of our generosity.</p>